Rescue lift

Abstract

A compact rescue lift device adapted to be deployed from an elevated location, having a central spine with upper and lower portions, where the upper portion of the spine includes a means for coupling the device to a structure and the lower portion includes a plurality of seating surfaces which include both supporting and retaining portions, with the device also including a plurality of hand grips, where the device is adapted to carry multiple victims at a time.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to an emergency rescue lift device, and more specifically, to a compact rescue lift device adapted to be easily deployed from an elevated location, such as a helicopter or other aerial rescue vehicle or device. [0002] In many emergency rescue situations, victims must be lifted or extracted from a particular, often dangerous location. A typical situation involves rescuing one or more victims from a body of water. For example, marine accidents or disasters often result in a helicopter being dispatched to the location of the emergency. Upon arrival at the site of the emergency, a rescuer is typically deployed from the helicopter. Victims are typically raised from the water into the helicopter in a “basket” type device, one victim at a time, requiring both the rescuer and additional victims to remain in the water for extended periods of time while each victim is lifted. [0003] In addition to such marine rescues, severe wea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] One aspect of a particular embodiment of the present invention is that it is relatively compact, allowing for easy transportation within a rescue vehicle, and convenient storage when not in use.

[0008] Another aspect of a particular embodiment of the present invention is that it is universally adaptable to a variety of devices, and may be deployed from virtually any helicopter or crane, or other rescue vehicle or device, through a simple connection.

[0009] Another aspect of a particular embodiment of the present invention is that it provides means for victims to engage themselves with the lifting device.

[0010] Another aspect of a particular embodiment of the present invention is that it provides a secure lifting device for extracting victims from dangerous areas or situations.

Problems solved by technology

In many emergency rescue situations, victims must be lifted or extracted from a particular, often dangerous location.

For example, marine accidents or disasters often result in a helicopter being dispatched to the location of the emergency.

In addition to such marine rescues, severe weather, rains, and general storm conditions often cause floods, leaving victims of the circumstances stranded in a body of water.

Such floods typically come somewhat unexpectedly, often trapping persons in a particular location, such as a vehicle.

Such vehicles generally become immobilized, forcing the occupants to flee to the highest point to escape the floodwaters, typically the roof of the vehicle.

In addition to floods, other circumstances such as fires, earthquakes, landslides or other natural disasters often result in victims being stranded in a remote or isolated location, where a rescue by air is the only feasible means of rescue.

While the typical “basket” type rescue device may be stored within the helicopter, it still requires victims to be lifted one at a time, thereby lengthening the time require for extracting the victims.

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